Plus appréciés Attractions à Washington DC

Situé au côté est du National Mall, le Mémorial Lincoln est un point de repère important de la ville. Il propose des vues magnifiques de la ville depuis plusieurs points d'observations. Le statue de Lincoln de presque six mètres de hauteur fait par Daniel Chester French, dans lequel on le voit assis en train de penser, à côté d'un texte sculpté du Discours de Gettysburg, permettant à un coup d'œil dans une période importante dans l'histoire des États-Unis. Les 36 colonnes doriques représentent le nombre des états dans l'Union lorsque Lincoln est mort. Il vaut mieux aller le soir quand il y a moins de monde.

La Galerie National comprend une collection extensive de l'art européen et américain dans deux bâtiments spectaculaires. Dans le grand Bâtiment Ouest néo-classique on montre des œuvres de Rembrandt, Rubens, et Gainsborough. La collection permanente comprend des œuvres du XIIIe au XXe siècle y compris une partie consacrée à l'Impressionnisme. Une gare au sous-sol où vous trouverez une boutique des cadeaux et des restaurants vous amènera au Bâtiment Est. Conçu par I.M. Pei, ce bâtiment triangulaire est un point de repère important de la ville où vous trouverez des œuvres d'art du XXe siècle ainsi que des expositions temporaires.

The symbol of the city of Washington DC, this 555-foot (169-meter) marble obelisk on the National Mall honors the nation's first president, George Washington. The cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid in 1848, but construction was not completed until 1884. About one-third of the way up the obelisk is a visible change in the marble, evidence of the onset of the Civil War. Construction was halted during the war, and when the builders returned to the same quarry to complete the project afterward, enough time had passed to cause a significant change in the color. An emblem of the United States and an icon of the nation, the Washington Monument is a moving sight, its elegant form mirrored in the Reflecting Pool of the Lincoln Monument nearby.

Part of the original design for the federal city, this massive park stretches from the US Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial and around the Tidal Basin to the Jefferson Memorial. It has played host to many momentous, world-changing events throughout history including the 1963 March on Washington, the Million Man March and several presidential inaugurations. Today, the National Mall serves as a place for reflection, a memorial to American heroes, a symbol of freedom and a forum for the exercise of democracy. The Smithsonian museums, the Vietnam Memorial, the Reflecting Pool and the iconic Washington Monument are a few of the most well-known of the National Mall's many iconic sites. Certainly, any visit to Washington DC should start with a tour of the United States National Mall, aptly named "America's front yard."

The Rock Creek Park contains a beautiful wild forest and serves as an oasis for city residents and tourists. Attractions include picnic areas, winding trails and bike paths, a nature center, a public golf course, tennis courts and stables. The centerpiece is a working gristmill, complete with a turning water wheel. Rock Creek Parkway runs alongside the meandering creek. Parts of the road are closed to traffic on weekends and turned over to cyclists and roller bladers. Although the Metro is nearby, a car is required to visit many of the key sites in a single trip. The park is also a popular spot in the winter for sledding, snowballs and other outdoor merriment.

One of the most popular rail trails in the country and also the most used, the Capital Crescent Trail is a pleasant 11-mile (17.70 kilometers) stretch covering through Georgetown on Water Street till Silver Spring. Set on the once deserted Georgetown Branch rail line, it is a hotspot for rollerbladers, hikers, skateboarders, walkers, bikers and joggers. Most of the trail is asphalt and is also used for commuting. Winding through parks, wooded areas, water bodies and local attractions, it is indeed a landmark in the locality and the nearby areas. So if you're planning to spend a day outdoors without venturing far away from civilization, then Capital Crescent Trail is your destination.